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Space Opera: SF on the Grand Scale

Originally coined as a derogatory term for that "Buck Rogers stuff" in pulp magazines and comic books, Space Opera has evolved into a series of SF concepts, tropes, and motifs that constitute almost a sub-genre of its own. It's principle characteristics are a focus on big concepts and ideas presented on a huge, interstellar canvas that can encompass all of space and time, and a grounding in some scientific plausibility. Often it involves multi-volume story arcs, or, as in the case of Le Guin's Hainish novels, stand-alone stories set in the same universe. Here are 100 prime examples. Our compiler has limited this list to only works by the original creators, and has omitted series that are fantasy based. He has also excluded movie and TV tie-ins.
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The Shape of Things to Come (Wells)
The Shape of Things to Come
1
Wells
When the Sleeper Wakes (H.G. Wells)
When the Sleeper Wakes
2
H.G. Wells
Starmaker (Olaf Stapledon)
Starmaker
3
Olaf Stapledon
Last and First Men (Olaf Stapledon)
Last and First Men
4
Olaf Stapledon
Odd John (Olaf Stapledon)
Odd John
5
Olaf Stapledon
The Past Through Tomorrow (Heinlein)
The Past Through Tomorrow
6
Heinlein
Orphans of the Sky
Orphans of the Sky
7
Methuselah's Children (Robert A. Heinlein)
Methuselah's Children
8
Robert A. Heinlein
Time Enough for Love (Robert A. Heinlein)
Time Enough for Love
9
Robert A. Heinlein
Starship Troopers (Robert A. Heinlein)
Starship Troopers
10
Robert A. Heinlein
Prelude to Foundation (Isaac Asimov)
Prelude to Foundation
11
Isaac Asimov
Foundation (Isaac Asimov)
Foundation
12
Isaac Asimov
Foundation and Empire (Isaac Asimov)
Foundation and Empire
13
Isaac Asimov
Second Foundation (Isaac Asimov)
Second Foundation
14
Isaac Asimov
Foundation's Edge (Isaac Asimov)
Foundation's Edge
15
Isaac Asimov
Forward the Foundation
Forward the Foundation
16
Foundation and Earth (Isaac Asimov)
Foundation and Earth
17
Isaac Asimov
2001: A Space Odyssey (Arthur C. Clarke)
2001: A Space Odyssey
18
Arthur C. Clarke
2010: Odyssey Two (Arthur C. Clarke)
2010: Odyssey Two
19
Arthur C. Clarke
2061: Odyssey Three (Arthur C. Clarke)
2061: Odyssey Three
20
Arthur C. Clarke
3001: The Final Odyssey (Arthur C. Clarke)
3001: The Final Odyssey
21
Arthur C. Clarke
Childhood's End (Clarke)
Childhood's End
22
Clarke
Rendezvous With Rama (Arthur C. Clarke)
Rendezvous With Rama
23
Arthur C. Clarke
The Fountains of Paradise (Arthur C. Clarke)
The Fountains of Paradise
24
Arthur C. Clarke
The Demolished Man (Alfred Bester)
The Demolished Man
25
Alfred Bester
The Stars My Destination (Alfred Bester)
The Stars My Destination
26
Alfred Bester
Rocannon's World (Ursula K. Le Guin)
Rocannon's World
27
Ursula K. Le Guin
Planet of Exile (Ursula K. Le Guin)
Planet of Exile
28
Ursula K. Le Guin
City of Illusions (Ursula K. Le Guin)
City of Illusions
29
Ursula K. Le Guin
The Left Hand of Darkness (Ursula K. Le Guin)
The Left Hand of Darkness
30
Ursula K. Le Guin
Ursula K. Le Guin: The Dispossessed
Ursula K. Le Guin: The Dispossessed
31
Dune (Frank Herbert)
Dune
32
Frank Herbert
Dune Messiah (Frank Herbert)
Dune Messiah
33
Frank Herbert
Children of Dune (Frank Herbert)
Children of Dune
34
Frank Herbert
God Emperor of Dune (Frank Herbert)
God Emperor of Dune
35
Frank Herbert
Heretics of Dune (Frank Herbert)
Heretics of Dune
36
Frank Herbert
Chapterhouse: Dune (Frank Herbert)
Chapterhouse: Dune
37
Frank Herbert
Cities in Flight (James Blish)
Cities in Flight
38
James Blish
Hyperion (Dan Simmons)
Hyperion
39
Dan Simmons
The Fall of Hyperion (Dan Simmons)
The Fall of Hyperion
40
Dan Simmons
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